Living In Aramco - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

This coming July'08 will be Azlan's 5th. anniversary with Aramco. Not bad..he got a SR1500 gift certificate and for sure..you know who will it be going to..May Allah swt. make it easy for him in anything that he do...anyway..when we first got here we were the first Malaysian family... although there were 1/2 Malaysians too..those married to another passport holder. There were those who were Msian but has now become holders of other country citizenship. But after 5 years there are now about 50++ families scattered in Dhahran, Udhailiyah, Ras Tanura and Abqaiq...Dhahran being the most populated and nearer to the Al-Khobar and Dammam and just a causeway away abt 45mins from the country of Bahrain. So..I guess those who got to stay in Dhahran got the better deals in terms of amenities..although you can be easily tempted with all the sale that is always going on. Probably those who stay in other camps will be able to save more money compared to us here Dhahranians... No matter what..I guess in Aramco that's where you can find the most varied citizens from around the world..just go to the schools and you know what I mean..the most mixed marriages...all in all it is quite a unique community.

Honestly...I dont venture out of the house much as I am without any help at home...got to do the 1001 things myself that the house and family needed..almost always 24 hrs on call...but basically no complaint as I got my equal share of fun the way I want it..But 3 mornings in a week I attended classes...this got me going and meet more fun people..like minded in the way we want to learn new things..so got to make sure I can maintain the consistency of going to the Quran & Arabic classes...There are always something going on..like the Womens Group..Garden Group and plus if you volunteer in schools for certain activities. You might end up having no time to devote to what your house or family need...sometimes I have a houseboy come to clean the windows and toilets etc..but since he's back to India not sure till when..I havent yet get a replacement...On camp there also have a few snack bars, a cafe, a restaurant, a dining hall, a movie theater, swimming pools..hiking tracks..sporst facility, library, bowling alley, golf field, a hobby farm for horses..beautiful beach when its not hot... a great wall climbing area, art classes, individuals who also provide services like gifts, beauty, piano lessons, dance...you name it and almost always its available.. so life here is not too bad..once you get bored with not finding anything to do you can always go away for a short or long holiday. We were in Lon&Paris for 2 weeks, now planning for a 5week trip to Malaysia and in between maybe umrah to Makkah, weekend in Bahrain..thats what sums up your life here....

But the things you will almost always miss being here are relatives and the time....the food you once love but in actual fact not that healthy for you always..though it taste great and looks wonderful...But for me, the best thing will be seeing my children grow from my own nurturing... seeing more smiles each day between us...although the age is now slowly creeping up...

Zayd & Hannah

Student Lead Conference ~Sunday Feb. 10, 2008..Aramco School, Dhahran.

Trios at the 7th grade hallway...waiting for Zayd's turn..

Zayd at his famous locker...

Hannah & Papa front of the date tree...

In front of 7th. grade building...

Hannah waiting to be called in...

Hannah & Mrs. Lunsford her 6th. grade Oasis and Math teacher...

Student led means the kid got to present and show/tell their parents what they have been doing. Their progress in school that is...well..Hannah has great grades and Zayd has make some big scale improvements in Science from C- to now a B+ avg...wonder if he can maintain them... Here are some photos of them around school...

Plaques or Signs and Such'

Decorative painting attempts...

Here I have manage to make some " Welcome "signs. I know it is still not as per what I have read in the books of what it should look like but I can see some improvements in them...i dont mind saying so..ehemm..Still..I am feeling a little sad as my book orders have lost its way...I hope that it will reach me eventually..although my heart is sinking each day it did not arrive...

Anyway...here goes... the 1st. try was the one with lots of roses top and bottom..than I read somewhere it says to do the lettering first..2nd attempt I bough a template and was quite happy the letters are straight but Hannah hates it coz'to hear it looks too straight..huh...3rd attempt I do the tracing transfer and colored the lettering in first..but it is a mess..but I was quite happy with the roses and leaves...I guss as I practise it will be better...Hannah ask...No other flowers kah Ma...? Maybe later... thought if its difficult it might give me a challenge..I guess should have followed the advise to start with a daisy first...but I was so geram...in awe..of all the beautiful paintings of Aniza,Nora that I see on the web...

Swags and Such...

Craft Extravaganza...

Last week was quite eventful as I manage to complete eventhough half way some of these arrangements. As it would normally happen, I will fell in love with some of them and reluctant to part with it for its rightful owner. Anyway...I still have some stuffs left to duplicate them. Now its to make the paper ribbons or silk and attached it and they will be done. Soon enough will be with their rightful owners. I know they will like them as much as I do....but still I hope what I have made is as per what they have in mind...This is usually the difficult part for me to do if the items are custom ordered..I rather just make them ahead and have the available stocks on display and chosen by those who like them...next will be in calculating the costs for each piece..main will be the material cost and than the workmanship. Since I bought the silk flowers from Malaysia last summer..some air freight charges has got to be added...here my cake scale comes in handy...